lindseygrahamandothers say the designation would have allowed authorities to mine intelligence for 30 days and question the suspect about possible links to terrorist groups actively trying to harm the united states. >> the ability to have access to this suspect without a lawyer present, to gather intelligence about a future attack is absolutely essential to our national security. >> critics say the president can't do that because tsarnaev doesn't fit the legal definition of enemy combatant. there is no proof yet that he is an active member of al qaeda or the taliban. >> possibly you might be able to benefit from the time. you may not. he may clam up. it's just as likely if not more likely that you would harm or potentially harm the federal case. >> the white house decision sets a pattern, since march 2009 the obama administration changed the way the war is prosecuted. ordering the pentagon who stop using the term global war on terror. instead calling it an overseas contingency operation. the president's current cia director raised eyebrows when he declared jihad is not necessary lay b

is one way to achieve something but, what we're trying to achieve,whatlindseygraham, andkelly ayotte are trying to achieve, that is the most important thing. our priority here should be, i think, not to punish these perpetrators. not to prosecute them. not to rehabilitate them. our main purpose right now should be, we have somebody in custody who may know of other terrorist plots of other terrorist cells, who has information that may save lives and prevent future bombings. the question is, can we get that information from him, or are we going to do i think what now has been done, tell him he has the right to remain silent and we're going to remain ignorant of the information he has even if that means other people will be killed in terrorist attacks in the future. this is a decision we've made. i think it is a mistaken decision to say we're going to remain ignorant and we're not going, we're going to let him have the right to remain silent, aside from all the prosecution, aside from all other issues. we're remaining ignorant by choice. >> host: here are headlines. "washington post" sa

to be accountable on behalf of the administration. assenatorlindseygrahamsaidvery eloquently, america's investment in foreign-policy is national security insurance. there is nothing foreign about foreign policy anymore. smartcan make the small,. w vestments upfront and avoid more costly conflicts and greater burdens down the road. , we'vepast few months seen developments underscore the state -- stakes for having a strong and -- strong american presence in the world. that was a positive step toward stability in the volatile region of the world where we need partnerships. the committee is more than immersed in suyyruiaia. we have treated millions to humanitarian relief -- we have provided millions to humanitarian relief. i expect we will talk about syria somewhat today. having returned from beijing and north koreathe issue took center stage, we are reminded once again that america is the guardian of global security. we should be proud of that. one not turn our back on keys nor will we hesitate what we need to do to defend our allies. if budget is an analyst patient of our values and pri